Snow pusher having equalizer guide scraper tongue member



July 12, 1966 s. P. BRESCH 3,260,002

SNOW PUSHER HAVING EQUALIZER GUIDE SGRAPER TONGUE MEMBER Filed Sept. 25. 1963 IN VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,260,002 SNOW PUSHER HAV NG EQUALIZER GUIDE SCRAPER TONGUE MEMBER Sterling P. Bresch, 9917 Fonda Drive, St. Louis County 37, Mo. Filed Sept. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 311,393 8 Claims. (Cl. 37-53) The present invention relates to a device for removing snow from sidewalks, driveways, and the like, and particularly relates a pusher-type snow removal device having an equalizer guide member mounted on the leading edge so that the pusher may be controlled in its forward movement and any tendency toward sidewi-se movement is minimized.

Of the many types of snow removing devices, I have found that the pusher-type device is the easiest to operate without undue strain on the user. This is important, since the unusual exertion combined with the cold cause numerous deaths and incapacity by those shoveling or removing snow each year.

I also have found that conventional snow pushers tend to veer from side to side during use. I also have found that snow pushers are not constructed for proper nesting during storage and shipment, and are expensive to manufacture. All of these defects have limited acceptance of snow pushers by the purchasing public.

Therefore, one of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a triangularly shaped snow pusher having a guide member on the leading edge to eliminate veering of the pusher from side to side during operation.

It is another principal object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, easily-assembled snow pushing device which may be nested during shipping, and which may be shipped and stored in knocked-down condition.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

The present device comprises a pair of triangularly shaped panels having a common edge and an apex with a guide member mounted on the apex to lead and start the forward movement of the pusher through the snow and eliminate veering from side to side.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like members refer to like parts Wherever they occur,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the present device in assembled position,

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a portion of the handle broken away,

FIG. 3 is a side elevati-onal view,

FIG. 4 is a rear view,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the guide member.

FIG. 1 shows a snow pusher 10 comprising a handle 11 removably attached to a body portion 12 which has a guide member 13 mounted on the leading edge thereof.

The body member 12 is of one piece formed into a pair of triangular panels 14, which are joined at a common edge 15 and taper to a tip or apex. The body portion 12 is formed from one-half of a square blank out along a diagonal. Reinforcing beads or ribs 16 are formed in the body 12 perpendicular to the common edge 15. The beads 16 strengthen and stiffen the body panels 14. Stilfening and reinforcing U shaped auxiliary members 17 are positioned along the free co-planar bottom crimped edges 18 of the body panels 14 to stiffen the crimped edges 18 and to take some of the wear caused by moving the pusher 10 over rough, hard surfaces. Removable tension bars and stiffening members 19 are positioned within the body 10 and join the inner surfaces of the poitioned openings 27 in the panels 14. The stiffening members 19 are removable, so that the body members 10 may be nested during shipping. I

Similarly, the handle 11 is removably positioned in a removable bracket 20 mounted adjacent to the rear end of the common edge 15 and also is held to the body by a removable screw and nut assembly 21 positioned into the front end of the handle 11 through the body 10 along the common edge 15. The forward edge of the handle 11 is tapered to fit into the inner pocket 22 formed in the guide member 13. During shipment and storage, the handle 11 is readily removable merely by removing the screw nut assembly 21 and slipping the handle 11 through the bracket 20, which is also removable. The arrange ment of the handle and the side panels is such that user pushes from a natural upright stance without undue strain or exertion.

The guide or equalizer member 13 comprises a bottom panel 23 having a serrated or toothed leading edge 24 which extends forwardly of the apex formed by the juncture of the triangular panels 14 when the guide member 13 is joined to the body 12. A hollow pyramidal body or housing forms the hollow pocket 22 which is defined by triangular side panels 25 joined to the base panel 23 as by welding.

The guide member housing 22 is so proportioned that the apex of the pusher body 12 fits snugly within the housing 22. The housing side panels 25 are fixed to the pusher body side panels 14 by fastening means, such as screws and nut assembly 26, which extend through prehousing sides 25 into the apex of the side panels 14.

The bottom panel 23 is co-planar with the bottom edges of the pusher body side panels 14 as defined by the strengthening and reinforcing members 17. This provides a smooth and even bottom surface for the snow pusher 10. The tapered forward end of the handle 11 fits within the hollow pyramidal-shaped opening defined by the upper surface of the bottom panel 23 and the inner surfaces of the pusher body side panels 14 at the apex. This provides additional bracing for the handle 11.

In operation, the guide member 13 initiates and causes a forward break in lifting the snow, which is then pushed o the sides by the triangular panels 14. The guide member 13 prevents the triangular body 12 from veering to one side or the other during removal of the snow in its forward movement. In addition, the guide member 13 tends to lift and remove more heavily attached portions of the snow by passing under said portions, giving a scraper effect.

Thus it is apparent that the present invention comprises a snow pusher having an equalizer guide member, said pusher being easily and inexpensively constructed and being suitable for knock-down for easy shipment and storage.

This invention is intended to cover all changes tnd modifications of the examples of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A snow pusher comprising (a) a pair of triangularly shaped side panels joined at a common top edge and meeting in an apex, said panels defining a hollow pyramidal shape open at the bottom and at one end,

(b) a guide member mounted on the apex, said guide member including a flat planar base extending forwardly of said apex and aligned with the plane defined by the bottom edges of the triangular panels,

and a hollow body congruent to said pyramidal shape mounted on and projecting over the base, the apex of the snow pusher panels being received within the hollow body, and

() means securing the guide member to the triangular panels.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the leading edge f the guide member base is serrated.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein the triangular anels are provided with stiffening ribs formed therein at ubstantially right angles to the common edge.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein the bottom edges If the triangular panels are crimped and are provided vith auxiliary reinforcing and strengthening members.

5. The structure of claim 1 including removable cross )races connecting the inside surfaces of the triangular ianels, said braces being removable when a plurality of he panels are nested together.

6. The structure of claim 1 including a detachable handle brace at the open end of the triangular panels adiacent to the common edge of the panels.

7. The structure of claim 1 including a removable handle, a bracket at the open end of the triangular panels adjacent to the common edge of the panels, and removable fastening means positioned through the common edge of the side panels, said handle residing adjacent to the inner surfaces of the side panels at the common edge and having one end lying adjacent to the base of the guide member adjacent to the apex.

8. A snow pusher comprising (a) a pair of triangularly shaped side panels joined at a common top edge and meeting in an apex, said panels defining a hollow pyramidal shape open on the bottom side and at one end,

(b) stiffening ribs formed in the side panels,

(c) strengthening and auxiliary members fastened to the bottom edge of the side panels,

(d) removable cross braces connecting the side panels, said braces being removable when a plurality of the panels are nested together,

(e) a removable handle,

(13) a detachable handle brace at the open end of the triangular panels adjacent to the common edge of the panels,

(g) removable fastening means positioned through the common edge of the side panels and adapted to engage the handle when the handle is positioned in the handle brace adjacent to the inner surfaces of the side panels at the common edge,

(h) a guide member mounted on the side panels at the apex, said guide member having a flat base member extending forwardly of said apex and having a serrated leading edge and being aligned with the plane defined by the bottom edges of the side panels, said guide member also having a hollow body congruent to said pyramidal shape, said body being mounted on and projecting over said base member, two sides of which are fitted over the side panels at the apex so that the portion of the base member under said body defines a bottom for the side panels at the apex and is adapted to support the forward end of the handle,

and (i) means securing the guide member to the side panels at the apex.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,872,082 8/1932 Hedberg 37-53 2,773,318 12/1956 Hemsath et a1. 37-53 3,078,604 2/1963 Neuman 37-53 3,155,413 11/1964 Holombo 37-53 X FOREIGN PATENTS 23,869 8/1883 Germany.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner. R. L. HOLLISTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SNOW PUSHER COMPRISING (A) A PAIR OF TRIANGULARLY SHAPED SIDE PANELS JOINED AT A COMMON TOP EDGE AND MEETING IN AN APEX, SAID PANELS DEFINING A HOLLOW PYRAMIDAL SHAPE OPEN AT THE BOTTOM AND AT ONE END, (B) A GUIDE MEMBER MOUNTED ON THE APEX, SAID GUIDE MEMBER INCLUDING A FLAT PLANAR BASE EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF SAID APEX AND ALIGNED WITH THE PLANE DEFINED BY THE BOTTOM EDGES OF THE TRIANGULAR PANELS, AND A HOLLOW BODY CONGRUENT TO SAID PYRAMIDAL SHAPE MOUNTED ON AND PROJECTING OVER THE BASE, THE APEX OF THE SNOW PUSHER PANELS BEING RECEIVED WITHIN THE HOLLOW BODY, AND (C) MEANS SECURING THE GUIDE MEMBER TO THE TRIANGULAR PANELS. 